chain strap Bags, Handbags & Purses

Christian Louboutin is the undisputed king of French fashion accessories. His red-soled shoes have graced the feet of princesses and fashion royalty the world over for decades. Still, his momentum shows no sign of slowing down. Year after year, he brings street chic to the boutique set. This ...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love your beautiful buttery leather, and your angled stitching. I love your zippered edges, and your edgy chain strap. And most of all, I love your minimalist design, which is ...

DKNY isn't the most extravagant line out there, nor is it the most original. Its talent lies in creating affordable, stylish bags of good quality that are consistent with today's trends. This textured leather shoulder bag is a great example of this.

I have always questioned Stella McCartney's accessory design sensibility, but I'm beginning to come around. The Falabella line, in particular, isn't one of my favorites, but McCartney seems to have made some much-needed changes and the effects are fabulous.

Although Stella McCartney is a great apparel designer, I don't always love her bags. I really respect her dedication to animal rights and the environment, but sometimes her eco-materials just don't hold her styles very well. This seems to be changing, however, and this metallic boucle ...

Sometimes there's a bag that seems like it was custom-designed to appeal to you personally. For me, more often than not, that bag is made by Alexander McQueen. This Military Skull box clutch is a red hot accessory that will appeal to more than just me, ...

DKNY has been a little up and down this season. Frankly, that's kind of an improvement, since before this season I had basically written it off. This leopard print calf hair shoulder bag is a fabulous addition to the line, and I hope it plans on ...

Christian Louboutin's line of Sweet Charity bags is one of my favorites. Which is kind of unusual actually, because I'm not into glam or sparkles or any of that stuff. Despite this, I find the design of bags very compelling. Especially this very glittery ...

Chloe is one of those lines that is somehow able to take contemporary designs and inject them with a giant dose of feminine charm. Its styles never look too trendy or saccharine, which is a major feat. This new take on the June Bow bag is ...

Diane Von Furstenberg has been sticking to really classic looks lately, but this Harper Bon Bon bag shows definite traces of her usual bohemianism. The Bon Bon may be a little bit boho, but its slick details make it look very mod and ...

Diane Von Furstenberg's classic aesthetic is iconic and timeless. Usually, her style has a bohemian bent that makes it memorable. This Harper Day bag is memorable, but it's a lot different from the hippie designs she's known for.

Marc Jacobs personifies American chic. Seriously, this man is the patron saint of fashion design American-style. This oddly named Baroque Single Saffron bag is a great example of how Jacobs makes women all over the world love the red, white, and blue.

Nina Ricci delivers a bold new take on patchwork with this Patchwork Bag.

From a distance this seems like a very traditional Chanel-esque purse, with its front flap and gleaming golden fold-down clasp. But get closer and you'll see this Patchwork purse isn't quite as buttoned ...

It's been a while since I wrote about Tory Burch. I used to really dislike her aesthetic, but it's really grown on me the past few seasons. Not only that, but she's gotten a lot more street smart, as well, which only makes me like ...

There have been a ton of quilted leather bags on the market in the past few seasons. It's a classic look that was revamped in the 1990s, so today it looks a little retro. This Hamilton shoulder bag by MICHAEL Michael Kors is a great ...

I have to admit that Stella McCartney isn't one of my favorite accessory designers. I appreciate her commitment to environmental and animal causes, but her eco-materials often don't make for the best designs. This has been particularly true of the Falabella line. But, surprisingly, this ...

Antik Batik really has the bourgeois bohemian market cornered. Its signature blend of posh luxury and hippie design makes for a really eclectic line, and one that is growing quickly in popularity. It doesn't hurt that its prices are also really reasonable.

Mulberry's Tillie bag is a modern classic. Its tailored design has made it great for office looks and more conservative styles. This fabulous over-sized update gives the Tillie a more exotic look, but without taking away from its classic appeal.

Mulberry is one of those lines that has kind of taken me by surprise. I had all but written it off as a bastion of conservative aesthetics, but lately, it is putting out some very fashionable, but still traditional, accessories. This Cory shoulder bag is the perfect ...

Marc Jacobs has an extremely extensive style repertoire. Somehow he manages to run the gamut between edgy elegance and ladylike traditionalism without ever sacrificing something signature. This Billy handbag is a great example of a more minimal Marc Jacobs.

Marc Jacobs sure has come a long way since his grunge days. Now, not only is he the head designer at Louis Vuitton, but he has two eponymous lines of his own. Not only that, but his style has evolved into an elegant, ladylike sensibility that ...

Lanvin always seems to strike a pitch perfect balance between elegant timelessness and cutting edge design. The Happicolo is way more classic than it is cutting edge, but it is fabulously beautiful, nonetheless.

The complexly quilted black leather on the Happicolo is trademark Lanvin. It has a cross-hatched ...

I should admit right off that I'm something of a Marc Jacobs loyalist from way back in the Perry Ellis grunge days. But his eponymous line almost always exceeds my expectations nonetheless. This ladylike Minetta bag is a great example of where his design sensibility is ...

Sometimes the Marc by Marc Jacobs line is edgy and quirky, and sometimes it produces understated takes on the trends. This Party Foret is of the latter variety, and its take on modern design is pitch perfect and timeless.

Oh, Jimmy Choo, what do we do with you? Just when we think you're on a roll with all those wave-textured bags, you come up with something cheesy, plastic, and covered in glitter. This Candy glitter clutch is pretty disco, but it lacks the sophisticated design aesthetic ...

Recently, Jimmy Choo has been putting out a steady supply of street smart styles. They have the remarkable distinction of being both edgy and elegant. This Brix leather clutch is one of my favorite of the bunch, and it might be one of my favorite bags ...

When Halston chose Sarah Jessica Parker as its creative director, the fashion world was turned upside down. Even fans of SJP wondered if she had the chops to actually design clothes and accessories, as opposed to just looking good in them. But her simple, chic, and affordable designs ...

Valentino is one of the foremost designers of this century. When he retired, everyone wondered would happen to his extraordinary line. With only a few exceptions, the line has continued to flourish, and it's bags like the Rosette, which hearken back to Valentino's feminine aesthetic, that ...

Hobo International's traditional styling has made it a favorite amongst conservative fashion fans, but I must admit many of its accessories leave me a bit bored. So when one catches my eye like the Caralee it's reason to take a closer look.

Vanessa Bruno is quickly gaining a reputation for herself in the fashion world, and it's definitely a good one. Her bags are less formal and less expensive than a lot of designer bags out there, which makes them appealing to a young, hip demographic. This leather shoulder bag ...

Versace is not one of the first lines I think of when I think of modern design. Its aesthetic has a bit of an old world quality to it that has worked for it for decades. But this gorgeous electric blue shoulder bag is nothing if it's ...

Versace is not always one of my favorite lines. I really admire their dedication to flashy design, but it's not really my thing. Every now and then, though, they make something wonderfully gaudy that I can't help loving in spite of myself. This purple ring-detailed bag is one ...

One of my favorite things about the Marc by Marc Jacobs line is the way it moves from ultra-hip to super preppy all within the same season without sacrificing any of its signature style. That, and the ...

Antik Batik is a newer line that is quickly making a name for itself. Started in 1992 by Gabriella Cortese, the line features ethnic inspired prints and designs. Sometimes these turn out looking really boho, and sometimes they come together in a fabulously rock-n-roll sort of way. This Friel bag could go either ...

Stella McCartney has reworked her Falabella shoulder bag here into a hobo. Unfortunately, everything that I didn't like about the bag has been retained except the shape, and nothing particularly new has been added.

The faux python on this bag is terrible. I am all for animal-friendly fashion, but python-printed polyester just isn't ...

Mulberry's Mitzy Hobo is so iconic that I can't believe it hasn't been profiled here before. (We have mentioned it plenty, however.) Seriously, this bag is practically revolutionary because of its amazing combination of quality and affordability.

Only Lanvin could create a blush-colored evening bag that manages to look both motorcycle-inspired and also the height of chic. This line is amazing, and the Oulouette is a testament to the way Lanvin is able to combine seemingly dissimilar elements with extraordinary results.

Lanvin is always surprising me. Right when I think it's given up its cutting edge, it comes out with a bag like the Happy Pop. This gorgeous number strikes a fabulous balance between edgy and sophisticated.

The quilting on the black leather isn't your average Upper East side fare. It has a distinctly ...

Tory Burch is known for her refined, classic style, but lately she has been coming out with some eye-catching, street smart designs that will appeal to a more downtown demographic. This logo clutch mixes her traditional taste with a lot of bling.